WAIST MANAGEMENT

Here are a few tips to manage your waist size this holiday season:

1. Don’t skip meals.
Snack every 3-4 hours to keep your metabolism burning otherwise when the body senses starvation it stops burning calories.

2. Cut 100 calories per day.
This amounts to just one glass of wine or one cookie but can help you lose 12 pounds in one year.

3. Snack on nuts before dinner.
Eating a handful of almonds or walnuts before dinner not only gives you healthy essential fatty acids, it also makes you feel full so you will eat less at dinner.

4. Drink water 30 minutes before dinner.
Research shows that if you drink just two glasses of water 30 minutes before a meal you will lose weight.

5. Eat breakfast.
A healthy breakfast that includes protein will help avoid cravings later in the day. Eat a healthy whole grain cereal like Kashi or Natures Path and throw in some blueberries or have some yogurt and add some nuts and fruit.

6. Sugar is evil.
When food shopping make sure sugar is not listed in the first 5 ingredients. This includes anything that ends in -ose like glucose, fructose, etc. Hidden sugar is not only unhealthy but it’s quietly adding to your waist size.

7. Get adequate sleep.
Sleep deprivation increases hormones that increase your appetite.

8. Use a smaller plate.
Studies show that you will feel full earlier when your eyes see an empty plate. Put your large dinner plates away for dinner parties only.

9. Move
Walk, do yoga, have sex, lift weights, do pilates, join a dance class, adopt a dog. There are many ways to incorporate enjoyable activities into your daily routine that help keep your waist happy.